I got Win 8 isntalled on my file server, but I am unable to activate it with the key. Says the key is invalid. Since I work at microsoft I got a retail version from the employee store. I have been doing some reading, and to be able to activate Win8 with the key there needs to be a previous version of Windows installed for it to work. WTF, so you can't do clean installs?

You may be able to install Windows 8 consumer preview and upgrade from that. With older Windows versions, I could easily install the upgrade version and then upgrade that version and automagically have a full copy of Windows that I could activate. Windows 8 is evil in that you have to have a product key entered before you can even install it.

You may be able to install Windows 8 consumer preview and upgrade from that. With older Windows versions, I could easily install the upgrade version and then upgrade that version and automagically have a full copy of Windows that I could activate. Windows 8 is evil in that you have to have a product key entered before you can even install it.

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im doing a little work around real quick that i just found.

And that fixed it.

What I did:

1.In Windows 8, open the Registry Editor
2.Search for MediaBootInstall and set the value to 0.
3.Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator) and enter:
slmgr /rearm
4.If you get an access denied error message, you’re not running the command prompt with administrator privileges
5.Restart the computer
6.Open a command prompt and enter:
slui 3
7.Enter your Windows 8 upgrade license key and activate it
8.Done!

I guess I have some kinda magical upgrade copy then. Because I've done it about 5 times already.

My guess would be you guys are not doing proper formats. IF I was guessing.

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I'm with MailMan on this one. Both of my systems at home were fresh installs of Win 8 Pro Upgrade without any activation issues. Also did a clean install of Win 8 Pro Upgrade here at work without issues.

I'm with MailMan on this one. Both of my systems at home were fresh installs of Win 8 Pro Upgrade without any activation issues. Also did a clean install of Win 8 Pro Upgrade here at work without issues.